The World Health Organization (WHO) says at least 120 people have died from a cholera outbreak in Sudan’s West Kordofan State, with 1,102 suspected cases recorded since May amid the country’s ongoing conflict.
The outbreak comes just days after Sudan officially declared a cholera outbreak in the state, which lies along the frontline between areas controlled by the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to the WHO, the continuing conflict has severely weakened Sudan’s healthcare system, making it difficult to contain the spread of the disease and provide medical care in affected communities.
The latest outbreak is Sudan’s third cholera wave in as many years and began only two months after the previous outbreak was declared over in March. Government figures show that between July 2024 and March 2026, more than 124,400 people were infected and about 3,500 died.
The WHO warned that cholera has become a near-continuous public health threat in Sudan due to the prolonged conflict, limited access for emergency response teams and shortages of medical supplies.
The agency also expressed concern that the outbreak could worsen as the rainy season intensifies in the coming weeks, increasing the risk of contaminated water supplies and hampering access to affected communities.
The disease is also spreading beyond West Kordofan, with nearly 300 suspected cases and three deaths already reported in neighbouring North Kordofan.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned of a possible ground offensive by the RSF on the state capital, El-Obeid, raising fears that renewed fighting could further disrupt humanitarian operations.
More than three years of war have devastated Sudan’s health sector, with most hospitals either partially or completely out of service, while aid agencies estimate the conflict has claimed more than 200,000 lives.
